Pressure regulator



Jul 1927. 1 635 274 y M. G. HUBBARD PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed Jan.8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l &

INVENTOR wvsfi A'l'roR EY July 12, 1927.

M. G. HUBBARD PRESSURE REGULATOR Fi1edJan.8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 5 frag I ATTORNEY Patented July 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES MOSES G. HUBBARD, OF

GHA'II -IAM, NEW JERSEY.

PRESSURE REGULATOR.

Application filed January My invention relates to a, pressure regulator mechanism for use in connection with steam boilers, and more particularly to a mechanism in which water is transferred from one arm of a lever to the other arm thereof by the rise or fall of the boiler pres sure, the resulting movements of the lever controlling the position of the furnace dampers. The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 an enlarged side elevation of the controlling mechanism looking in the opposite direction of the View of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a plan view of the parts comprising the regulator, and Fig. 4 a sectional view of a detail. Similar reference numerals indicate similar parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a steam boiler having an air in take damper 2 in the main fire door; an air intake damper 3 in the ash-pit door; a check intake damper 4 in the breeching, off damper 5 in the smoke flue. The purpose of the invention is to control the rate of combustion in the fire box by controlling the position of the several dampersyso as to maintain a substantially constant predetermined steam pressure. applied to a domestic steam boiler in which one of the considerations is the maintenance of a comparatively low pressure, as low as one-quarter of an ounce per square inch up to any desired pressure which may be necessary, according to weather conditions. The invention is not, however, limited to the specific application shown in the drawings.

Extending from the dampers 2 and 3 are chains 6 and 7, respectively, the other ends of which chains are attached to the forward end of a lever 8. Extending from the dampers 4 and 5 are chains 9 and 10, respectively, which are attached at their other ends to the rear end of lever 8;

Rising from the steam drum of the boiler is a pipe 11 controlled by a valve 12. Extending laterally from the valve casing is a union and nipple connected to a T 13 from the side of which extends a nipple and elbow 14:. Into the top of the latter is screwed a standard 15 upon whichthe lever 8 is pivotally supported at approximately its center. From the T 13 extends a pipe 16 termi nating in an elbow having a nipple and another elbow to which is screw-connected a and a shut-- The invention, as shown, is

s, 1926. Serial No. 80,035.

metal pipe 17, preferably of copper, and made flexible for the whole or a-portion of its length by corrug'ating its wall as at 17, that is, this pipe connection is longitudinally rigid but transversely flexible and has no pivotal or sliding joints and nopac-king of any kind. The other end of pipe 17 is connected to an elbow having a short connection 18 therefrom which enters and discharges into what I term a supply tank ,19. The point of connection of the pipe 18 with the tank 19 determines the maximum water level in the tank. I prefer that thepoint of connection shall be as near the top of the tank as practicable as that permits a maximum volume of water to be used. The supply tank 19 is connected to the rear arm of lever 8 through a link 20 pivoted both to the tank and to the lever. The tank is provided with an opening closed by a cap 19 through which water may be introduced.

Connected to the front arm of lever 8 by a link 21 pivoted at both ends, is a second tank 22 which I term an actuating tank. This tank is connectedto the supply tank 19 by a pipe 23 attached to the bottom of each. Within tank 22 is a float-24 having a needle valve-extension 25 adapted to open and close a vent in a nipple 26. This vent is normally open to the atmosphere for vapor work, that is, when the boiler pressure is substantially 8 ounces or less. For higher pressures the vent can be closed by a cap 27. Thetanks '19 and 22 are so positioned relatively to each other that the bottom of tank 22 is in substantially the same horizontal plane as the opening of pipe 18 into tank 19 so that when the dampers are in the positions shown in the drawings, the water will be maintained substantially in the tank 19 and in the pipe connecting the two tanks. The float 24 being in its lowermost position from which it does not rise until the water has reached its flotation line, which is near its top. This being the maximum amount of water intended to be introduced into the tank the float rises, closes the vent and so prevents further passage of water into this tank 22 thereby preventing any possibility of overflow.

On the forward ally movable weight 28 with a clamp for holding it in any given position on the lever.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows. The tank 19 is filled with water end of lever 8 is a manuuntil it overflows through connection 18 and pipes l'Tand 16 intothe boiler. Assuming the dampers 2 and 4 to be closed and dampers 3 and 5 to beopen, air will be admitted to the ash-pitand combustion'chamher and as the steam pressure rises, in the. boiler and acts on the water in tank 19 it will force the water into tank- 22 to an amount determined by the height of the water column that the pressure which may be on the boiler atthat time will maintain, the result beinglthat of the weight of Water is moved from-the rear arm of the lever to the forward arm, and when sufficient weight has been so movedthe forward arm of the lever willbedepressed so as'to close damper-s .3 and 5 and open dampers .2 and 4'. This checks the combustion inithe fire box and as the steam pressure fallszthe water which has been forced into tank 22 will flow back by gravity into tank 19 until an equilibrium is obtained when the pressure will remain substantially constant-in the boiler. The depression OI the forward arm of lever 8 is assisted by thewweight 28 when inthe position shownin the drawings. This weight of coursemaybe placed on any point along the lever: for the purpose of varying the steam pressure desired tozbe carried on.

the boiler. lvhen loperating at a low 'or vapor pressure the float 2% will rise and seat the needle valve 1n the. vent OL hll outlet passage and so close such. passage whena predetermii'ied amount of water has flowed into the tank 22. I l Any condensation of the steam which enters the supply tank 19 adds to the volume of water in the tank.but such volume -is maintained substantially. constant by reason of the factthat the described pipe connectanks 19 and 22: liav'ea slightoscillatingmovement about the fiernble connection-17's Such form of connection is. importantas it permits of the movement of tank 19 with the leastv practicable resistance.- This movement of course is slight yet it is necessary to pro videzfor itin orderto accomplish the results described. The connections shown constitute a thoroughly satisfactory manner of obtaining such results. i

\ Vhat I claim is:

1. Damper controlling means for boiler furnaces comprising a water supply tank, a.

steam connection from the boiler to said tank, a second tank connected to said supply supply tank to permit water to flow from one tank to the other, a lever to which said tanks are pivotally connected on opposite 181C165 of the fulcrum, and connections be tween said lever and the dampers for open- 'ing or closing the latter according to the pressure of the steam.

3 ;Damper controlling means for boiler furnaces com risin a water su plv tank, a

steam connection from the boiler to said tank so located as to permitexcess water toiiow into theboiler, a second tank connected to said supply tank to permit water to flow from one tank to the other, a lever to which said tanks are pivotally connected on opposite sides of the fulcrum, and connections between said lever and the dampers for open- :ing or closing the latter according to the pressure of thesteam.

I 4;.-Damper controlling means for boiler furnaces comprising a water supplytank, a

steam'connection from the boiler to said :tank solocated as to permit the excess Water to overflow into the boiler, a second-tank, a rigid pipe connection between the two tanks to permit Water to flow from one to the other, a lever to which said tanks are 'pivotally-connected on opposite sides of the fulcrum, and connect onsbetween sa d lever and the-dampers foropening and closing thelatter' according to the pressure of the steam.

5.'Damper controlling means for boiler furnaces comprising a water supply tank, a

steam connection from the'boiler .to said tank, a seconditankiconnectedto said supply tank to permitwater to flow'from one to the other, said second tank having a vent normally. opennto the atmosphere wvhen working on vapor, manually operated means for positively closing said passage when working on higher pressures, a lever to which said tanks are pivotally connected on opposite sides'ofthe'fulcrum, and means between saidlever and the dampers. for opening and closing the latter accordlng to the pressure of the :steam."

GQDam'per controlling means for boiler furnaces comprising a. Water supply tank, a steamconnectloni-from the boiler to said tank, a second tank connected to said supply tank to .permit' water to flow from'one tank to the other, a lever to which said tanks are pivotally connected 011 opposite sides of the fulcrum and on different horrizontal planes,

and connections between said lever and the dampers for opening and closing the latter according to the pressure of the steam.

7. Damper controlling means for boiler furnaces comprising a water supply tank, a longitudinally rigid but transversely flexible tubular connection between said tank and the boiler, a second tank connected to said supply tank to permit Water to flow from one tank to the other, a lever to Which said tanks are pivotally connected on opposite sides of the fulcrum, and means between said lever and the dampers for opening and closing the latter according to the pressure of the steam.

8, Damper controlling means for boiler furnaces comprising a pivoted actuating lever, a Water supply tank attached to one arm of said lever, a tubular flexible connection between the boiler and said tank so constructed and located that steam can flow from the boiler into said tank, excess water can flow from said tank back into the boiler therethrough and said actuating lever can move freely on its pivot, a second tank attached to the other arm of said lever and so connected to said first tank that Water can flow from one tank to the other as the steam pressure in the boiler varies to thereby move said arm on its pivot, and connections from said lever to the furnace dampers.

9. In a damper controlling mechanism for steam boiler furnaces the combination of a pivoted actuating lever, operating connections from said lever to the furnace dampers, a Water supply tank attached to one arm of said lever, a tubular flexible connection between the boiler and said tank so constructed and located that steam can flow from the boiler into said tank, excess Water can flow from said tank back into the boiler therethrough and said lever can move freely on its pivot, a second tank attached to the other arm of said lever and so connected to said supply tankthat Water can flow from one tank to the other as the steam pressure i the boiler varies, an opening to the atmosphere in said second tank, and means for automatically closing said opening when a predetermined amount of Water has flowed into said second tank.

In testimony, whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 7th day of January, 1926.

MOSES G. HUBBARD. 

